Weatherstrip and counterbalance assembly and counterbalance therefor



Apnl 10, 1962 M. N. SWIERBUT ETAL 3, 0

WEATHERSTR ND COUNTERBALANCE ASSEMBLY AND TERBALANCE THEREFOR 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 7. 1956 Aprll 10, 1962 M. N. SWIERBUT ETAL 3,028,640

WEATHERSTRIP AND COUNTERBALANCE ASSEMBLY AND COUNTERBALANCE THEREFOR Filed Nov. 7, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORSI M'cae/N Gal/05m ETAL 3,028,640 RBALAN ASSEMBLY E THEREFOR April 10, 1962 M. N. SWIERBUT VEATHERSTRI AND c P AND COUNTE OUNTERBALANC Filed Nov. '7, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 United States Patent fi" WEATHERSTRIP AND COUNTERBALANCE AS' SEMBLY AND COUNTERBALANCE THEREFOR Michael N. Swierhut and Claude J. Teggelaar, Grand Rapids, Mich, assignors to Grand Rapids Hardware Company, Grand Rapids, Mich.

Filed Nov. 7, 1956, Ser. No. 620,902 2 Claims. (CI. 20-52) This invention relates to a Weatherstrip and counterbalance assembly and a counterbalance adapted for use with or without the Weatherstrip.

The main objects of this invention are:

First, to provide a counterbalance and Weatherstrip assembly which may be readily installed and sash quickly and easily associated therewith.

Second, to provide a counterbalance unit which may be readily installed and the sash may be associated therewith without the use of tools.

Third, to provide a Weatherstrip and counterbalance assembly which may be quickly adjusted to sash varying substantially in Weight and without disassembling from the window casing jamb on which it is mounted or removing the sash from the window casing.

Fourth, to provide a Weatherstrip and counterbalance assembly which may be very economically produced and quickly and easily installed and at the same time is strong and durable.

Objects relating to details and economies of the invention will appear from the description to follow. The invention is defined and pointed out in the claims.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary view partially in vertical section of a Weatherstrip and counterbalance assembly embodying our invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view mainly in vertical section on a line corresponding to line 2-2 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary horizontal section on a line corresponding to line 3-3 of FIG. 2, parts being shown in full lines.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view partially in vertical section on a line corresponding to line 4-4 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of the sash ranger member illustrating its relation to the counterbalance spring and the feature permitting adjustment relative thereto.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view of the Weatherstrip counterbalance assembly of my invention with one of the spring housing members removed.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view on a line corresponding to line 7-7 of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is an inside perspective view of the upper end of one of the spring housings.

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary view partially in vertical sec tion illustrating a modified form or embodiment of my invention in which the Weatherstrip element is omitted.

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary view on a line corresponding to line Ill-Ill of FIG. 11 illustrating the relation of the counterbalance members to the sash.

FIG. 11 is an enlarged fragmentary view on a line corresponding to line 11-11 of FIG. 9.

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary view of a modified form or embodiment of my invention.

In the accompanying drawing 1 represents the jamb or side member of a window frame or casing, 2 the top thereof and 3 the sill. These parts are conventionally shown or indicated. Both the upper and lower sash 4 and 5 respectively have vertical grooves 6 in their stiles.

The Weatherstrip member designated generally by the numeral 7 is formed of a strip of sheet metal conformed to provide a central stop 8 and a pair of forwardly facing channels 9 adapted to slidably receive the upper and lower sash. The edges 10 of the strip are folded inwardly to 'provide a finish and stiffen the side flanges of the Weatherstrip. The parting strip is provided with longitudinal beads 11 on its sides. The Weatherstrip is fixedly secured to the jamb 1 of the window frame or casing and the relationship of the sash to the channels of the weatherstrip is clearly illustrated in FIG. 3. The webs of the channels are provided with openings 12 adjacent the upper ends.

sion 14 at'its upper end, the bill 15 of the hook being curved and the hook is formed by distorting end coils of.

the spring. The hook is engaged with the opening 12 with the bill of the hook on the rear side of the weatherstrip.

At its lower end the counterbalance is provided with a hanger member 15 formed of a strip of metal of such width as to telescope Within the spring and having vertically spaced notches 16 therein with which the loop 17 at the lower end of the spring may be selectively engaged. This hanger member also desirably has notch like recesses 18 spaced from the anchoring notches 16 to receive the upper portion of the loop providing a direct pull of the spring on the hanger and thereby substantially eliminating tilting stress on the hanger.

At its lower end the hanger is provided with a laterally turned lug 19 which is engaged through a hole 2!) in the sash engaging member 21 of the hanger. This member hasan upset portion 22 disposed within the groove of the sash to prevent lateral movement of the member 21 when engaged with the lower edge of the sash as clearly shown in FIG. 4.

The combined spring housing and Weatherstrip member 25 is of rearwardly facing channel section and has laterally projecting flanges 26 on its edges which supportingly engage the web of the Weatherstrip. These flanges are slit at 27 to provide laterally projecting tongues 28 which by springing the channels may be engaged with the slots 29 in the webs of the Weatherstrip. The outer edges of these slots are struck forwardly at 30 to facilitate this engagement, see FIGS. 6, 7 and 8. To secure the housing fasteners 31 are provided Which are inserted through aligned holes 32 and 33 respectively, these holes being preferably positioned so that the fasteners pass through the looped eyes of the hooks and prevent the hooks from jumping out of the openings provided therefor in the Weatherstrip. The member 25 serves the double purpose of providing a housing for the counterbalance spring 13 and also serves as a Weatherstrip element or member.

When the sash engaging member of the hanger is disengaged from the sash it engages the lower end of the housing so that it may be conveniently grasped to pull the counterbalance down in position to be engaged by the sash or the sash may be inserted in position to engage this member 22 and the sash pulled down to closed position of the desired extent. As stated, the counterbalance may be adjusted to varying weights of sash and this may be done without removing the sash. If it is the lower sash, the sash is raised until the sash engaging member of the anchor can be grasped and the hanger pulled out of the sash until the spring can be grasped and the hanger adjusted relative thereto.

In the embodiment of my invention shown in FIGS. 9, 10, 11 and 12 the Weatherstrip is omitted and in that case the spring housing 25 is secured directly to the window casing side member or jamb, the flanges of the housing being perforated at 34 to receive nails or screws.

In this embodiment the loop 35 at the upper end of Patented Apr. 10, 1962 I the counterbalance spring is engaged by the supporting screw or nail 36 otherwise, and aside from omitting the Weatherstrip, the parts are the same as described.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 12, the hanger member 37 is given a quarter turn and is bent at its lower end to provide a sash engaging member 39. In this embodiment it is desirable to notch the sash at 40 and 41 to provide seating recesses for the member 39 as the sash engaging member 39 does not have a centering portion as is the case with the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 8 inclusive. That is also true of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 where the upset 42 of the sash engag ing member is of less width than the groove in the sash and the sash is recessed at 43 to center the member 42. With this arrangement of parts it is unnecessary to provide the sash engaging member with screws or other sash attaching means. In these embodiments of our invention illustrated in FIGS. 9, 10, 11 and 12 the member 13 is the only Weatherstrip member and while it does not extend the full length of the jambs, it provides an effective weatherstrip for the upper sash.

We have not illustrated other modifications or adaptations of our invention which we contemplate as it is believed that this disclosure will enable those skilled in the art to embody or adapt our invention as may be desired.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and is desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A Weatherstrip and counterbalance for a sash having a grooved stile comprising a Weatherstrip body member adapted to be mounted on a Window casing and having a forwardly facing sash receiving channel, the web of the body member having laterally spaced vertical slots therein, a coil spring having coils at the upper end thereof offset to provide a downwardly facing hook with a looplike bill, said Weatherstrip body member having an opening therein with which said hook is engaged with its bill disposed on the rear side of the web, a sash hanger member telescopingly and adjustably engaged with the lower end of said spring, a sash groove engaging combined .4 spring housing and Weatherstrip member of rearwardly facing channel section having laterally projecting flanges on the edges of its arms disposed in supported relation upon the web of said Weatherstrip body member, said flanges having opposed vertically spaced pairs of slits therein providing laterally projecting tongues engaged in said slots in said Weatherstrip body member, said sash engaging member engaging the lower end of said housing when freed from said sash, and a Weatherstrip fastener element disposed through the webs of said spring housing and Weatherstrip and through the loop-like bill of said hook of said spring.

2. A Weatherstrip and counterbalance for a sash having a grooved stile comprising a Weatherstrip body member adapted to be mounted on a window casing and having a forwardly facing sash receiving channel, the web of the body member having laterally spaced vertical slots therein, a coil spring having coils at the upper end thereof offset to provide a downwardly facing hook with a looplike bill, said Weatherstrip body member having an opening therein with which said hook is engaged with its bill disposed on the rear side of the web, a sash hanger member telescopingly and adjustably engaged with the lower end of said spring, and a sash groove engaging combined spring housing and Weatherstrip member of rearwardly facing channel section having laterally projecting flanges on the edges of its arms disposed in supported relation upon the web of said Weatherstrip body member, said flanges having opposed vertically spaced pairs of slits therein providing laterally projecting tongues engaged in said slots in said Weatherstrip body member, said sash engaging member engaging the lower end of said housing when freed from said sash.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,722,723 Mears Nov. 8, 1955 2,747,219 Haas May 29, 1956 2,786,230 Hettinger Mar. 26, 1957 2,885,725 Glass May 12, 1959 

